Crib



July 13 1926. 1,592,573

C. A. SOANS CRIB Filed Sept. 3 1920 Patented July 13, 1926.

UNITED srmss 1,5a2,573 earner CYRIL A. SCANS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T SZMMON$ COMPANY, OF DELA- WARE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF \R ISCGNSIN.

CRIB.

Application filed September My invention relates to improvements in cribs and has particular reference to that type of crib having a depressible side or gate.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a crib of the type referred to, having means enabling the crib side to be secured or adjusted in more than one position of elevation; to provide a construction so organized as to permit of adjustments of the crib side to be readily effected by the foot; to provide an arrangement which will effect-the securing of the crib side in elevated position by a clamping action as distinguished from a mere means of support, thereby tending to prevent rattling of the parts and enhancing the strength and rigidity of the structure; to provide a construction that will be convenient and economical when shipped in knocked down condition; to provide a construction which will be comparatively free from danger of breaking or injury either in shipment or in use; to provide a construction which shall be simple, inexpensive in design and manufacture; and in general to provide animproved crib of the kind referred to.

In the drawings which illustrate a specific embodiment of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a crib with my improved drop side;

Fig. 2 is an enlargement of a portion of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an under side plan section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 44: of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings and 11 represent the head and foot ends or frames of a crib which, in the present instance, is constructed throughout of rectangular light steel tubing. 12 is the front or drop side of the crib, said drop side also being constructed of rectangular tubing and comprisin}; upper and lower rails 13 and 14, which are connected by interposed hollow filler members 15. Preferably the outer filler members 16 and 17 are constructed of some what heavier material in order to permit of their being rigidly united to the ends of the horizontal rails 13 and M. The rails 13 and 14: are suitably perforated top and bottom to accommodate the vertical guide rods 18 and 19 on which the drop side is slidably mounted. Preferably the upper ends of the 3, 1920. Serial No. l08,002.

frame, while the lower ends may, if desired,

have a. small amount of play in the brackets 20 and 21 secured to the lower ends of the said posts.

The securing of the drop side in any dcsired elevatedpositicn is effected by members carried by he crib side and automatically tending to exert a clamping actioiron the rods 18 and 19. One of said clamping devices employed in connection with each of the rods 18 and i9 is a common actuating member serving to control or operate both of the clamping devices. In the present instance, said common actuating member takes the form of a substantially horizontal rod or bar 22 located a short distance below the bottom rail 1 1-. of the drop side so as to occupy a position in which it may be readily accessible to the foot of the operator. lnasmuch as each of the clamping devices controlled by said rod 22 is similar in construc tion and operation, it need not be described in detail. I

It will be observed that projecting from the under side of the bottom rail 141 is a depending leg or lug or bracket 23, in which is rigidly secured a pivot pin 2i. Said pivot pin 24 serves as a fulcrum for a locl-ting member 25 which, in the present instance, comprises a lever slotted, as shown at 26, to accommodate said pivot pin 2%. The outer end of said lever 25 has a turned over horizontally extending lug 27 suitably perforated to fit loosely on the guide rod 18 when the outer end of the lever 25 depressed and the lever occupies a substantially horizontal position' Normally, however, the lever 25 automatically tends to occupy the position shown in the drawings due to the weight of the actuating bar 22, one end of which carries a pin 28 fitting a slightly elongated aperture 29 in the inner end of said lever 25. If desired, a small coil tension spring 30 having one of its ends connected on the top of the rail let and its other end connected in an aperture of the lug 27 may be employed to secure a some what more positive action of the cramp lever 25 under all extraordinary conditions of use. A small lug 31 formed as a part of the depending bracket 23 may also be employed, if desired, in order to prevent the lever 25 from assuming a reversely inclined position and thereby interfering with the free sliding movement of the drop side.

In view of the detailed description of the mechanism the operation of the device wil be readily understood. In the position of the parts, as shown in the drawings, the weight of the crib side is supported upon the pivot 2 the rod 22 by reason of the slots 29 merely resting upon the pins 28 and not interfering with the cramping action of the levers 25. Because of the fact that the pivots 2a! are offset a considerable distance from the guide rods tnere will be a very strong cramping action taking place between the guide rod 18 and the sides of the apertures in the lug 2?, which will be amply suiiicient to prevent relative sliding movement of the lever and guide rod. Thus, the drop side will be locked automatically in wl'iatever position of elevation it occupies. If desired, the locking action may be made still more positive by notching the guide rod slightly as indi cated at 32.

\Vhen it is desired to depress the drop side the operator merely raises the actuating rod 22 by lifting it with the toe or instep, thus causing the cramp levers 25 to swing about the pivot pins 2%. This flattening out movement of the levers cancels the cramping effect and the crib side is free to descend, said descending movement of the drop side being controlled by regulation of the foot which may be held in contact with the actuating bar 22 until the desired depressed position of the drop side has been reached.

The crib side may be raised by the hand or by the foot with equal facility in view of the fact that the clamping action of the locking men'ibers is rendered effective or ineffective, as the case may be, by relative movement of the side and said clamping means. In raising the top side by means of the foot, the foot is quickly withdrawn from under the rod 22 as soon as the desired elevated position has been reached, thereby allowing the weight of the rod 22, assisted by the action of the springs 30, to swing the cramping levers 25 into locking position.

It will be observed that the actuating rod 22 serves to operate both clamping devices. which are controlled in common by the rod 22 irrespective of the point along the bar at which the upward pressure of the foot is applied. Manifestly. if the foot is applied towards one end of the rod 22, the clamping lever at that end of the rod 22 will be the first to respond and the other clamping lever may not be disengaged. However as soon as the upper side of the clamping lever 25 has engaged the stop 31, that end of the rod 22 can no longer ascend, and the continued application of upward pressure to the rod 22 will thereupon have the required effect upon the clamping device on the other end of the rod, thus releasing both clamping devices and' permitting the drop side to descend. This is an important feature of my device, as it avoids the necessity of the operator being compelled to look or hunt for a pedal or other small part.

In view of the fact that in releasing the drop side the foot of the operator serves to raise a part connectec to the drop side, it will be obvious that there is no sudden dropping of the crib side from its top position to its bottom position, with the accoi'npanying jar and rattle, for the reason that the foot may be used to support the crib side until it has reached its lowermost position.

The described construction is merely illustrative of one application of my invention, the scope of which to be determined by the appended claims, said claims being construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state of the art.

I claim 1- 1. In a drop side crib, the combination of a main frame having a pair of spaced upright guide-rods, a crib side slidable on said rods, a member at each end of the crib side embracing the corresponding rod and slid able thereon and a rod extending lengthwise under the crib side and connecting said members and operable by gravity to interlock the aforesaid members with the guide rods.

2. In a drop side crib, the combination of a main frame having a pair of spaced upright guide rods, a crib side slidable on said rods, a member at each end of the crib side pivoted to the latter and each member having opposed portions embracing the adjoining guide rod and slidable thereon and a rod extending longitudinally under the crib side and having the O}')DOSli'6 encs pivoted respectively to the inner ends of the aforesaid members and operable by gravity to actuate the members and thereby cause the opposed portions of each member to grip the rod therebetwecn and thereby hold the gate in various positions ofa-djustment on the rod.

CYRlL i. SOANS. 

